Bikini Barista Controversy

Officers arrested three baristas on October 31, 2013, at this Hillbilly Hotties coffee stand in Everett, Wash. because they were allegedly violating the city's adult cabaret law

Credit: CBS affiliate KIRO

Bikini-clad baristas have caused a stir across Washington state before. In Some love the scantily-clad coffee servers, but others have complained on moral grounds. Police say a few baristas have gone too far and there have been arrests for indecent exposure and prostitution. Lisa Caughron, 20, who works at Cowgirl Espresso outside Seattle, said, "I love my job and my customers are great!"

Credit: Cowgirls Espresso

In early October 2009, a barista at Bikini Bottom Espresso, Megan Lenn, was charged with indecent exposure for wearing nothing but pieces of black tape to cover her nipples, Detective Ed Troyer told CBS affiliate KIRO. Randi Damery, shown here, works at Peek-A-Brew in Bonney Lake, Wash., 30 miles south of Seattle. Damery said at Peek-A-Brew, baristas are "covered more than anyone else you would see at a beach."

Credit: Peek-a-Brew

Jamie Smith, 20, who worked at Cowgirls Espresso on Greenwood Avenue in Seattle, said, "It's Halloween every day at my job. I love to play dress up; the only difference is I hand out coffee at my door." Baristas at Cowgirls Espresso said they are careful to follow local ordinances, which vary from county to county, covering up where necessary.

Credit: Cowgirls Espresso

Peek-A-Brew Espresso, shown here, says it has kept its nose clean by following local laws. But Grab 'n Go Coffee in Everett, Wash., was the subject of a 2011 police investigation, during which detectives told CBS affiliate KIRO they saw women lick whipped cream off of each other and pose nude for photos. Police say five baristas, who they charged with prostitution, charged customers up to $80 to watch them strip.

Credit: Peek-a-Brew

Randi Damery, 29, left, and Kaylee McKinlay, 18, prepare coffee at Peek-A-Brew in Bonney Lake, Wash. The stand is owned by Damery's mother, Beth Damery. Randi calls it a "family business." Some less family-oriented stands have been told to cover up by police. The owner of Barista's Coffee in Bremerton, Wash., told CBS affiliate KIRO in August that cops threatened to shut down his store after baristas wore pasties.

Credit: Peek-a-Brew

Five baristas from Grab 'n Go Espresso in Everett, Wash., were charged with prostitution on Sept. 23, 2009, after police say a two-month investigation caught the ladies stripping for money and posing for nude photographs in the coffee stand, pictured here.

Credit: CBS

Lisa Caughron, 20, who worked at the Cowgirls Espresso location on Greenwood Ave. in Seattle, brushed off the controversy. "I love my job and my customers are great!" she told Crimesider.

Credit: Cowgirls Espresso

Cowgirls Espresso is based out of Seattle, but has numerous cow-spotted franchise locations across Washington state. According to the company Web site, baristas began donning bikinis after an employee asked to wear one on a hot day. Now the stores have themed days, such as School Girl Thursdays and Fantasy Fridays.

Credit: Cowgirls Espresso

Stephanie Gibbons, 20, who worked at the Smokin' Hot Espresso in Tacoma, Wash., said working there "is like going to the biggest Halloween party every day."

Credit: Smokin Hot Espresso

Five baristas at the Grab 'n Go coffee stand in Everett, Wash., shown here, were charged with prostitution on Sept. 23, 2009, after police observed them stripping for money in the stand. Police said other sexual activities took place at the coffee stand, including a game in which customers would throw wadded up money at the girls, who would try to catch it in their underwear.

Credit: CBS

Lisa Caughron, 20, poses outside of the Cowgirls Espresso on Greenwood Avenue in Seattle. She told Crimesider that working at the coffee stand is like being a bartender, in that customers tell her "all the drama in their day." "I support them and reassure [customers] that tomorrow is another day," she said.

Credit: Cowgirls Espresso

Lenea Campion, 20, who worked at Smokin' Hot Espresso in Tacoma, Wash., told Crimesider, "I get to be my crazy normal self and wear hot outfits all while meeting awesome people and serving the best coffee in town!"

Credit: Smokin Hot Espresso

Kathryn Porter, 25, is pictured inside Peek-A-Brew Espresso in Bonney Lake, Wash. Beth Damery, the shop's owner, says she aims to keep things "dignified," a policy that keeps her stand out of trouble while others find themselves in hot water.

Credit: Peek-a-Brew

Randi Damery, 29, left, and Kaylee McKinlay, 18, pose at Peek-A-Brew in Bonney Lake, Wash. Damery, a manager, says that she is comfortable working in revealing outfits. "We're covered more than anyone else you would see at a beach," she said.

But, some baristas are over-exposed. Megan Lenn, 19, was arrested for wearing only black tape on her nipples at Bikini Bottom Espresso in South Hill, Wash., on Oct. 7, 2009.

Credit: Peek-a-Brew

Lisa Caughron, 20, who worked at the Cowgirls Espresso location on Greenwood Avenue in Seattle, brushed off the controversy. "I love my job and my customers are great!" she told Crimesider.